Musicians devote their careers and hearts to mastering an instrument and sharing their passion for music with others. Assistant conductor of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Wiley led an open discussion about music and life with local classical musicians performing the music of their choice. Musicians featured in this edition of Artist Unmasked: Trevor Pittman-clarinet, Erin Armstrong- soprano, Joanna Henderin-piano, Michele Dumoulin- violin, Brent Lee- composer, Nicholas Papador- percussion, Mike Stone- trombone, Sunnyside Strings youth ensemble, music students of the University of Windsor, and others.
Testimonial:
I think the “Artist Unmasked” is a wonderful way for 4th Wall to open up conversations with musicians and members of the audience. It’s a unique concert experience. I thoroughly enjoyed Sunday’s performance! I enjoyed the conversations with musicians and learning about the various sides of their career/music business.
I learned something new. I’ve never looked at a percussionist’s score close up!
It was a lovely concert and the kids were thrilled to be included – what a nice experience for them. And so much other fun music!
Thanks for coming out to hear the incredible musicians perform at either one of the 2 special performances: Capitol Theatre on Sunday afternoon, and Amherstburg Freedom Museum, Monday night.
As is 4th Wall’s motto of breaking down the wall between musicians and the audience, chairs were set up on the stage, giving patrons the rare opportunity to hear the musicians up close and personal!
Irene Moore Davis discussed the influence of music on Windsor’s rich and diverse history. Violinist Velda Kelly wowed the audience with skillful playing of Violin Sonata in A Major, Op. 1 #2 by Joseph Boulogne (Allegro Moderato and Andantino-Allegro Minore) and Romance in G Major, Op. 39 by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Harpist Maurice Draughn, who we were told had an adventure of a time getting to the theatre in time, played the intimate solo piece Homage by Zenobia Powell Perry and then was joined by harpist Amy Ley for a duet of Somerland by William Grant Still. Soprano Shahida Nurullah was a joy to hear, as she sang the soulful tunes Some of these Days by Shelton Brooks, Good Morning Heartache by Irene Higginbotham, Ervin Drake and Dan Fisher, Throw it Away by Abbey Lincoln. Ending the evening was skilled pianist Mike Karloff who played Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin and Carolina Shout by James P. Johnson
🎼 Incredible performances! Thanks to all who came out to Fight to the Fiddle 🎻🎻. This jam-packed program included not only the virtuosic string playing of Kenneth MacLeod and Tino Popvic but also a Robbie Burns Day poetry reading, music of the Great Highland Bagpipes performing piobaireachd and the inspired young fiddle and violin students of Kenneth MacLeod and Sunnyside Strings. Mike Karloff accompanied Tino on piano, and Kenneth was joined by members of the Rankin family – Cameron on piano and on fiddle – Alastair and Sarah, who also added a bit of Scottish step dancing! Everyone played their hearts ❤️ out 🎶 and people gathered afterwards to celebrate at Villain’s Beastro for a ceilidh 😉
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were sad to have to announce that our last concert of the 2019-20 season, Tea Time Travels, had to be postponed. We still wanted to connect! Here are the recorded performances by “local musicians enjoying music in their living rooms”!
Florin Simioanca, Viola
Friday, August 7th, 2020 Looking to brighten your day? Check out this absolutely gorgeous piece, beautifully played by the talented violist Florin Simioanca. Here’s what Florin has to say about it:
“When people think of Romanian classical music, the composer who most frequently comes to mind is George Enescu. While Enescu was an internationally renowned composer and violinist, he encouraged other Romanian composers to write music that expressed the Romanian national character. One composer who embodied this mission was Valile Filip. His work encompasses the spirit and the folklore of the Romanian people.
The first part of his Romanian Suite is called Doinind, which means singing a song specific to the Transylvanian region. This type of song evokes Romanian peasant music, melancholic in nature, which reflects the hardship of years of foreign occupation.
The second part of the Suite, Taraneasca, has a lively character. This fast-paced melody might be performed at village dances or celebrations.
I chose this piece because I wanted to introduce this music to new audiences. While originally written for violin, I transposed it for the viola as I felt the character of the piece translated well to the timbre of the viola”.
Enjoy!
Read more about Florin Simioanca here.
David Cyrenne, audio engineer musician, singer and songwriter
Friday, July 24th, 2020 Hello, we hope that everyone is staying well…and cool! Since we began, 4th Wall Music has been a platform for music and discussion that draws you in and leaves you thinking. In celebrating the aliveness of classical chamber music we have also welcomed to the stage music of all genres from jazz to world music, beatboxing, fiddle and more dawing on the wealth of talent in our city! Our next instalment of “musicians in their living rooms” might stretch your listening landscape a bit. We are proud to feature a fantastic local audio engineer musician, singer, songwriter, David Cyrenne. You might know him from what EyesonWindsor calls, “Windsor’s favourite philanthropic super-group, The S’Aints” https://eyesonwindsor.com/event/saints-christmas-concert/ The Song “Dreams of Youth”, originally written & recorded by David & his band Feal many years ago has now been rewritten & rerecorded from scratch. David performed on all the instruments: guitar, bass, keyboards, drums/percussion programming & vocals. He mixed and mastered the recording in his studio, Surreel Sound. David assembled the video with a combination of stock & footage he captured.
Focusing on his music creation in his newly renovated studio during the pandemic, David’s own lyrics inspired a new birth to “Dreams of Youth”. The song is about Mother Nature’s cry for help. Isolation has helped heal the Earth. This is a dedication to all essential workers.
Friday, May 22nd, 2020
This week, we’re thrilled to share the incredible, talented Robert Conway playing “Palais de Mari” by Morton Feldman.
“Palais de Mari, Morton Feldman’s last work for solo piano is a quietly meditative work that for me reflects the suspension of time as we normally experience it, as a result of the current situation. While an overall sense of calm is projected, there are subtle manipulations of expectation that reflects the internal unrest that is not an uncommon feeling at this time.”
Friday, May 8th, 2020
“I have a private student in Windsor who hails from Venezuela – she also plays with the Windsor Youth Symphony Orchestra – and she brought this piece to a lesson. I loved it, so she brought me a copy of it. Omar Acosta is also from Venezuela, though he now lives in Madrid. Pajarillo means “little bird” in Spanish, but it also refers to a uniquely Venezuelan rhythm called pajarillo. The piece imitates the the instrumental sounds and melodic turns found in the joropo, Venezuela’s national dance. (Joropo originally meant party!)”
https://youtu.be/v1ic1it93XU?rel=0
Graham Mackenzie, Oboe
Friday, May 1st, 2020
This week we invite you to close your eyes and take a little trip on “Air Maurice Ravel” listening to the exotic melodies in “Piece en Form de Habanera”. This week’s featured “musician in their living room” is Principal Oboist of the WSO, Graham Mackenzie accompanied by his wife, Bassoonist (and pianist!) Margaret Fay.
“I picked this piece because it’s so beautifully suited to the oboe. It has been played by all kinds of different instruments, but I like it best on oboe (not that I’m biased!) because the oboe’s mysterious, exotic tone brings out the character of this music really well. My multi-talented wife Margaret P. Fay, who is primarily a bassoonist, graciously agreed to learn the piano part and did a terrific job. Enjoy!”
https://youtu.be/sAfc3ZntXlE?rel=0
Andrew Wu, Violon
Friday, April 24th, 2020
It’s Friday again, and we’re excited to share our 2nd video from this series:
Andrew Wu is playing the final Allegro movement from a duet by Mazas – Op 38 #10. His playing of the 2 parts is so much fun to watch – please enjoy!
https://youtu.be/zV78XsjPowY?rel=0
Amy Ley, Harp
Friday, April 17th, 2020
For the first instalment, sit back, relax and enjoy harpist (and 4th Wall Music artistic director) Amy Ley performing the “Presto” movement of J.S. Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 1 transcribed by the famous harpist, Marcel Grandjany. Here’s what Amy has to say about this piece:
“I have enjoyed the way that amidst the waterfall of notes my mind must stay in the present moment. I also like that in playing it, I’m linked to a time around 300 years ago that I’m sure was in some ways different and in some ways the same. It’s not the most reflective or meditative piece and I have been driving my family a bit nuts in practicing it, but I like the long journeying lines that fluctuate from intense to playful. It’s also a real technical challenge that has been fun!”
